Can tendon autograft function as a meniscal transplant?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Post-meniscectomy knee pain is a common complication following partial or total meniscectomy.
• Treatment options include meniscus allograft transplant (MAT), implants, and tendon autografts.
• The peroneus longus (PL) tendon autograft is explored as a viable option for meniscal transplantation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the functional outcomes of using the peroneus longus (PL) tendon autograft for meniscus transplantation.
• To assess its efficacy in patients with knee joint line pain exacerbated by weight-bearing after meniscectomy.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 25 patients (19 male, 6 female) underwent PL autograft meniscal transplantation between May 2022 and December 2022.
• The medial meniscus was transplanted in 17 patients, and the lateral meniscus in 8 patients.
• Functional outcomes were assessed using Lysholm and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis and Outcome (KOOS) scores preoperatively and at 2-year follow-up.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant improvement in both Lysholm and KOOS scores was observed at the 2-year follow-up compared to preoperative values.
• These improvements indicate enhanced knee function and reduced symptoms in patients treated with PL autograft.

Conclusions:

• Meniscus transplantation using the peroneus longus (PL) tendon autograft appears to be a successful treatment for post-meniscectomy symptoms.
• Satisfactory functional results suggest PL autograft is a viable option for patients with persistent knee pain after meniscectomy.